Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula has shown a plate approach and swing that have translated directly to the big leagues. He has cemented himself as a postseason-caliber player.
In his Dodger Stadium debut on September 19th against the San Francisco Giants, De Paula went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk.
It was electric, and hitting in the No. 9 spot, he got on base and scored twice.
Since getting called up, De Paula is hitting .238/.448/.476 in eight games, with eight walks and two strikeouts. His OPS is .924, and while the sample size is limited, the results grow more undeniable game after game.
His production isn’t coming from something high-variance like a high batting average on batted balls; rather, he is delivering through a calculated plate approach, taking walks and never pressing the issue through his 29 plate appearances.
The problem with adding De Paula to the playoff roster
De Paula is “potentially” an option for the postseason roster, according to manager Dave Roberts.
For him to play in October, the team has to jump through hoops. The Dodgers would need to file an exemption with the Commissioner’s Office to add him to the postseason roster.
De Paula was not on the 40-man roster by September 1st, making him technically ineligible unless the Dodgers get the exemption.
They would need a player on the injured list as the reason, making outfielder Andy Pages and catcher Dalton Rushing the two possible postseason casualties.
Given Pages’ status on the team, there is no chance he does not get the nod. Rushing, meanwhile, is trying to swing the bat despite elbow irritation, though he is still a ways from returning.
Something worth noting: Andrew Friedman has a history of letting a hot prospect ride in the postseason.
The Corey Seager Parallel
Seager, at 21, the same age as De Paula, got a call-up on September 3rd, 2015, and he was a sensation from the outset.
He played 27 games and was one of baseball’s best hitters for about a month. Seager slashed .337/.425/.561 with 14 walks, 19 strikeouts, four home runs, and 17 RBIs.
His play earned him a postseason roster spot, where he started. He struggled, hitting .188/.250/.485 with eight strikeouts and 1 walk.
That year, the Dodgers were bounced out by the New York Mets in a five-game thriller. Seager played in all five games.
While Seager struggled, there are reasons to believe that De Paula thrived. He has better discipline and chases less than the young shortstop.
Additionally, De Paula has much more talent and experience around him than Seager did.
With Shohei Ohtani returning, DePaula would be a pinch hitter who is tasked with getting on base. DePaula has success against both left- and right-handed pitching, so that he can be a versatile bat off the bench.
If he keeps performing as he has, Friedman will have another clear decision on his hands — give the young guy a chance to show what he can do.
